Closure and ventilating wall structure

ABSTRACT

A slidably shiftable closure and ventilating panel unit comprised of alternate air impervious, translucent panel sections and air pervious, ventilating panel sections is suspended on a guide track over spaced apart openings separated by solid wall sections of an upright wall structure. The panel unit is slidably shiftable back and forth on the guide track between an open position in which the ventilating panel sections are aligned over the openings and a closed position in which the air impervious panel sections are aligned over the openings in position to be pulled in tightly against weather stripping around the openings by latch means affixed to the upright wall structure inside of the openings. The air impervious panel sections are comprised of an opaque sheet of thermal insulating material having at least one through aperture therein of decorative configuration and an overlying sheet of translucent, air impervious material.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,858,638

Soeifker 1 Jan. 7, 1975 CLOSURE AND VENTILATING WALL [57] ABSTRACTSTRUCTURE A slidably shiftable closure and ventilating panel unit [76]Inventor: Eldred E. Soeffker, 2805 Sycamore comprised of alternate airimpervious, translucent Ln. North, Minneapolis, Minn. panel sections andair pervious, ventilating panel sec- 55427 tions is suspended on a guidetrack over spaced apart openings separated by solid wall sections of anupright [22] Flled' Sept' 1973 wall structure. The panel unit isslidably shiftable back [21] Appl. No; 398,259 and forth on the guidetrack between an open position in which the ventilating panel sectionsare aligned [52] U 8 Cl 160/102 98/40 R 160/222 over the openings and aclosed position in which the [5]] 1506b 3/32 air impervious panelsections are aligned over the 58 Field of Search....... 160/87 89 102108 115 P f g weat er strippmg aroun t e openmgs y atc means 160/18498/40 R affixed to the upright wall structure inside of the openings.The air impervious panel sections are comprised [56] I References Citedof an opaque sheet of thermal insulating material hav- UNITED STATESPATENTS ing at least one through aperture therein of decorative1,860,648 5/1932 Bokan 160/89 X nfig ration and an overlying sheet oftranslucent,

2,120,986 6/1938 Morris 160/102 X air impervious materiaL 2,724,15511/1955 Hindin 160/90 X 3,289,738 12/1966 Williams 160/102 PrimaryExaminer-Philip C. Kannan 13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Attorney, Agent,or Firm-Williamson, Baines &

Moore CLOSURE AND VENTILATING WALL STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious types of combined window and screen structures have beendeveloped for alternately closing or opening a plurality of spaced apartopenings in a dwelling wall by the use of a slide unit comprised ofalternate glass and screen panels, the slide unit being shiftable withrespect to the dwelling wall so as to align either the glass panels orthe screen panels with the openings. Such prior art closure andventilating structures have generally incorporated a pair of spacedapart guide tracks in which the opposite, longitudinal edges of theslide unit are restrainably engaged for sliding movement. Such astructural approach for the glass and screen slide unit has necessarilyrequired elaborate and expensive sealing devices for maintaining atight, weather seal of the glass panels around the dwelling openingswhen the slide unit is shifted to position the glass panels in alignmentwith the openings. See, for example, US. Pat. No. 3,289,738.

I have developed a combined closure and ventilating wall structure whichovercomes the aforesaid difficulties and provides a unique decoratingeffect by the use of a freely suspended slide unit having altenrateventilating panel sections and air impervious, insulating panel sectionsof decorative design.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The closure and ventilating panelstructure of this invention is particularly characterized by a slidepanel unit which is freely suspended in such a way that it can bequickly and easily shifted between so-called open and closed positionsselectively aligning its alternate translucent closure panel sections orair pervious ventilating panel sections over openings in an upright wallwithout interference with weather stripping around the openings, whilepermitting tight, sealing engagement with the weather stripping by theuse of releasable latch means engaged after the panel unti is shifted.The closure panel sections are constructed in such a way as to provide adistinctive decorating effect when slidably positioned over the wallopenings in tight, sealing engagement therewith.

These basic objectives and advantages have been realized by suspendingthe slide panel unit only at its upper end in a guide track extendingabove spaced apart openings in a wall so that the side panel unit isfree hanging at its bottom end. Releasable latches attached to solidwall sections on opposite sides of the wall openings are utilized topull the closusre panel sections in tightly against weather strippingextending around the periphery of each opening when the slide panel unitis shifted to its closed position. When the latches are released, thefree hanging slide panel unit will tend to swing outwardly from thewall, with the result that it can be easily shifted on the guide trackwithout interference with or damage to the weather stripping to positionthe ventilating panels over the wall openings. In order to insure thatthe slide panel unit will be able to swing outwardly away from theweather stripping on the building wall when the latches are released,pivot brackets attached to the upper end of the slide panel unit areutilized to suspend it from the overhead guide track.

A further advantageous feature of the aforesaid slide panel unit residesin the positioning of attachment devices for the closure panel latcheswithin recesses on opposite sides of the inside faces of the closurepanel sections. This feature insures that there will be no inwardlyprotruding obstructions on the sliding panel unit which would rubagainst and damage the weather stripping around the wall openings whenthe slide panel unit is shifted between its open and closed positions.

The aforesaid lataches for the closure panels preferably take the formof spring-loaded, pivotal arms mounted on opposite sides of each wallopening in such a way that they may be pivoted inwardly to over centerlocking positions wherein they pull the closure panels inwardly in verytight, sealing engagement with the weather stripping around the wallopenings.

A particularly advantageous decorative effect is derived from thestructure of the air impervious, closure panels provided on my slidingpanel unit. Each of the closure panels is comprised of an opaque,thermal insulating sheet having at least one through aperture ofdecorative configuration and covered on at least one side by a sheet ofair impervious, translucent material. By virtue of this panelconstruction, weather elements will be excluded by the air impervioussheet and light may only pass through the decorative apertures in theopaque insulating sheet.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will becomereadily apparent as the following description is read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals have beenused to identify like elements throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of abuilding enclosure having the sliding closure and ventilating panel unitof this invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a top, plan view, partially in section, of the closure walland sliding panel unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, horizontal section view of one of the airimpervious panel sections taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal section view of one of the airpervious, ventilating panel sections taken along lines 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end, elevation view, partially in section, of the sidepanel unit and one of the wall openings;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view showing the manner of attachmentof the ventilating panel sections to the closure panel sections; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, horizontal section view taken along lines 7-7of FIG. 1 and showing one of the latch mechanisms at the corner junctionof one of the wall apertures and one of the air impervious, closurepanels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, Ihave shown in FIG. 1 a building 1 having an upright wall 2 on which theclosure and ventilating panel unit of this invention has been mounted.Upright wall structure 2 has a plurality of fixed, spaced apart solidwall sections 4 defining therebetween a plurality of spaced apartopenings 6. For the purpose of selectively closing and providingventilation through openings 6, I have provided a shiftable panel unitgenerally designated by reference nu meral 8. This panel unit isshiftably mounted for lateral movement back and forth along wall 2, asindicated by the arrows in FIG. 2, on an overhead track 10. It is to beunderstood that my sliding panel may be utilized on any type of buildingor dwelling where it is desired to provide selective closing orventilation by means of a plurality of spaced apart openings in abuilding wall. For example, I have found my sliding panel unitparticularly useful and effective on a wall of an enclosed swimming poolintended for year-around use, for the purpose of providing ventilationand natural lighting through one wall of the swimming pool enclosure.

Guide track l'is mounted as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 above opening 6 onupright wall 2 in a direction coextensive with the longitudinal extentof wall 2. although various types of guide tracks may obviously beutilized, I have found it particularly satisfactory to utilize a guidetrack 10 of inverted, U-shape as shown in FIG. 5 having inwardlyextending bottom flanges 10a. Track 10 is supported on wall 2 by aplurality of spaced apart hanger brackets 12 which hook under one of thehorizontal guide flanges 10a of track 10 as shown in FIG. 2. The mannerin which panel unit 8 is shiftably supported on track 10 is described indetail below.

Panel unit 8 is comprised of a plurality of alternate air impervious,heat insulating panel sections 14 and ventilating panel sections 16which are air pervious. As may best be understood by reference to FIGS.3 and 6, each of the air impervious or closure panel sections 14 ismounted on a frame assembly. of generally rectangular configurationcomprised of a plurality of angle iron members 18 joined together atintersecting corners, as

by welding, fasteners, or other suitable means. Abutting against thevertically extending flange faces of the four angle iron memmbers 18 isa first air impervious, translucent sheet 22. An opaque, thermalinsulating sheet 20 lies against the outer face of sheet 22 and issubstantially coplanar and coextensive therewith. A second translucent,air impervious sheet 23 identical to sheet 22 lies against the outerface of opaque sheet 20. It will be thus seen that opaque insulatingsheet 20 is sandwiched between inner and outer air impervious sheets 22and 23. This assembly of sheets 20, 22 and 23 is held in place againstangle iron members 18 by four outer hold-down strips 24 secured as shownto angle iron members 18 by bolts 26. Sheets 22 and 23 are preferablytranslucent Fiberglas. Sheets 20 may also be formed from various typesof material. I have found polyurethane to be particularly effectivebecause of its heat insulating and opaque qualities. In order to insurethat the panel sections 14 are air and weather tight, the joints betweenair impervious sheets 22, 23, and angle iron members 18 as well ashold-down strips 24 are sealed by any suitable cement or caulkingcompound as indicated at joints 28, 29 in FIG. 3.

Each of the opaque insulating sheets 20 has one or more apertures 30,30a cut therethrough in the shape of a desired decorative pattern. Forexample, as is indicated in FIG. 1, star shaped apertures 30 and fishshaped apertures 30a may be utilized. Since insulating sheets 20 areopaque, it will be appreciated that translucent sheets 22 and 23 willpermit the passage of light only through apertures 30 and 30a in sheets20. Thus, natural or artificial lighting may be utilized to outline andemphasize decorative apertures 30 and 30a to provide a distinctivedecorating effect.

Ventilating panel sections 16 are likewise assembled on a generallyrectangular frame comprised of four angle iron members 32 joinedtogether at their ends. Because of the enclousre requirements forswimming pools in many states, I have used cyclone fencing 34 incombination with insect resistant screen 36 on each of the ventilatingpanel sections 16. For the purpose of holding cyclone fencing 34 andwire section 36 against the vertical flanges of angle iron supportmembers 32 I have utilized four retention bars 38 in combination withfour hold-down strips 40. As is the case with holddown strips 24utilized on closure panel sections 14, bars 38 and hold-down strips 40are coextensive with angle iron support members 32, and with respect toventilating panel sections 16 are attached thereto by bolts 42 shown inFIG. 4. Retention bars 38 extend through the end loops of fencing 34 asshown at the corners of the rectangular frame assembly and thereby serveto hold fencing 34 securely in place between angle iron members 32 andhold-down strips 40. For application other than swimming pools wherepositive barriers are not required over the access openings to the pool,fencing 34 may obviously be dispensed with and each of the ventilatingpanel sections 16 may incorporate wire screen 36.

For the purpose of suspending panel unit 8 from track 10 for shiftingmovement thereon, I utilize hanger assemblies which are attached to thetop of closure panel sections 14. Each of these hanager assembliesincludes a double wheeled roller unit 44 having inner and outer rollers44a and 44b which ride on bottom flanges 10a of track 10 in the mannershown in FIG. 5. A bolt 46 is threaded into the center of each of theroller units 44 and extends through the top of a U-shaped bracket 48shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. A second, U-shaped swivel bracket 50 ispivotally attached to a pivot pin 52 extending through bracket 48.Swivel bracket 50 is welded to a right-angle weld bracket 54 secured bywelding or other suitable means to the top flange face of angle ironmembers 18.

Ventilating panel sections 16 are removably attached to closure panelsections 14 by means of laterally extending studs 56 having enlargedheads as shown in FIG. 6 and secured to the upright angle iron members18 on both sides thereof. Complimentary keyhole slots 58 are formed inthe abutting faces of angle iron support members 32 of ventilating panelsections 16 and slip over studs 56. In this manner, panel sections 14and 16 are held together and slide back and forth on guide track 10 as aunitary assembly. This unitary panel assembly 8 is free hanging at itsbottom end and thus may be swung outwardly away from upright wall 2about the horizontal axis defined by pivot pins 52 of swivel brackets50. This free, pivotal suspension of panel unit 8 provides a particularadvantage in clearing the outer face of wall 2 for the unimpeded lateralshifting of panel unit 8 back and forth on track 10.

For the purpose of securing panel unit 8 tightly in place against theouter face of wall 8, particularly when closure panel sections 14 arealigned with opening 6, I have provided latch devices attached to solidwall sections 4 inside of each of the openings 6 on opposite sidesthereof. These latch devices or mechanisms preferably take the form ofpivotal arms 60 having bifurcated inner ends as shown in FIG. 5 attachedto mounting brackets 62a, 6212. These mounting brackets are affixed tothe upright, opposed side faces of wall sections 4 defining the oppositesides of openings 6. Pivot pins 64, 64a serve to attach the bifurcatedends of latch arms 60 to mounting brackets 62a and 62b and definevertical axes about which arms 60 are pivotal in a generally horizontalplane substantially normal to the plane of panel unit 8. Each of thelatch devices preferably incorporates a coil spring 66 which isreleasably engageable with cooperating attachment means provided on theopposite sides of each of the closure panel sections 14. Such attachmentmeans are contained within recesses 68 formed in angle iron supportmembers 18 and sheets and 22 of panel sections 14 and may preferablytake the form of pins 70 extending transversely across recesses 68 asshown in FIG. 5. Springs 66 are hooked over pins 70, and may readily bereleased therefrom when it is desired to unlatch panel unit 8 and shiftit laterally on track 10. The inner ends of springs 66 are connected toa coupling device comprising a turnbuckle 72 having longitudinallyadjustable bolts 72a and 72b on its opposite ends. One end of each ofthe springs 66 is attached to outer turnbuckle bolt 72a; and innerturnbuckle bolt 72b has its hooked end attached around a pin 74 affixedto the bifurcated end of each latch arm 60. It is to be noted thatcoupling pins 74 are affixed to latch arms 60 at a point outwardlythereon from pivot pins 64, 64a where the inner ends of arms 60 areattached to the side walls of openings 6. This arrangement provides anover center, snap lock type of latch mechanism. In FIGS. 5 and 7, latcharms 60 are shown in their inwardly pivoted locking positions whereinsprings 66 are placed in tension. Arms 60 snap into their lockedpositions when coupling pins 74 pivot inwardly past an over centerposition with respect to the pivotal axis defined by pivot pins 64, 64a.

It is to be noted that a pair of vertically spaced latch devices asdescribed above are positioned adjacent to the top and bottom ends ofopenings 6 on both sides of the openings so as to pull both the upperand bottom ends of panel unit 8 tightly against the outer face of 4 wall2. The upper and lower latch devices of each pair of latches mounted oneach side of openings 6 are identical, and are shown in FIGS. 5 and 7respectively. Recesses 68 and attachment pins 70 contained therein arelocated at the top and bottom of each closure panel 14 on opposite sidesthereof in alignment with the pairs of vertically spaced latch devicesfor engagement by the outer ends of springs 66.

A facing 76 of cork or other suitable material may be placed on the sidewall portions of wall sections 4 defining the opposite sides of openings6, as is indicated in FIG. 7. Also, weather stripping comprised ofvertical strip segments 78 and horizontal strip segments 79 is placedaround the entire peripheral edge of each of the openings 6 on the outerface of wall 2. Strips of polyurethane adhesively secured to the outerface of wall 2 around openings 6 have been found to be quitesatisfactory for this purpose.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that panel unit 8can be slidably shifted back and forth along track 10 by means of rollerunits 44 to align either closure panel sections 14 or ventilating panels16 with openings 6. When it is desired to provide a weather tight,insulating closure over openings 6, panel unit 8 is shifted along track10 to the position shown in FIG. 2 wherein air impervious, heatinsulating panels 14 are aligned with openings 6. With latch arms 60 intheir outward release positions, springs 66 are hooked angle iron framemembers 18 around the periphery,

thereof bearing against weather stripping 78, 79 in tight, sealingengagement therewith. When it is desired to shift panel unit 8 to itsopen position with ventilating panel section 16 in alignment withopenings 6, latch arms 60 are pivoted outwardly to their releasepositions to unload springs 66, which are then unhooked fromm pins 70.Since panel unit 8 is suspended only at its upper end by pivot brackets50 and is free hanging at its lower end, its lower end will tend toswing outwardly away from wall 2 when the latching devices are released.Panel unit 8 may then be shifted laterally along track 10 withoutbinding against or damaging weather stripping 78, 79. As panel unit 8 ismanually shifted back and forth on track 10, it may be pivoted fartheroutwardly away from wall 2 about pivot pins 52 by the operator, ifdesired, to insure that there will be no interference of the weatherstripping 78, 79 with the sliding movement of panel unit 8.

Although I have described my closure and ventilating pane] structurewith respect to a preferred structural embodiment thereof, I anticipatethat various changes may be made in the size, shape and construction ofthe components without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A combined closure and ventilating wall structure comprising:

an upright wall comprised of a plurality of fixed,

spaced apart solid wall sections defining therebetween a plurality ofspaced apart openings separated by said solid wall sections;

a guide track attached to said upright wall above said openings in adirection coextensive with the longitudinal extent of said wall and saidopenings;

a shiftable panel unit suspended at its upper end by guide meansengaging said track and shiftable back and forth thereon, the bottom endof said panel unit being normally free hanging, and said panel unitbeing comprised of alternate, aiar impervious, heat insulating panelsections and air pervious ventilating panel sections joined together andshiftably movable back and forth together as a unitary assembly on saidtrack between a first closed position in which said air impervious panelsections are aligned over said openings in closing relation thereto anda second, open position in which said ventilating panel sections arealigned over said openings;

weather stripping extending around the peripheral edge of each of saidopenings on the outer face of the portions of said wall sectionsdefining said openings; and

latch means attached to said solid wall sections inside of each of saidopenings on opposite sides thereof, and cooperating attachment means onopposite sides of each of said air impervious panel sections with whichsaid latch means are releasably engageable in such a manner as to pullsaid air impervious panel sections inwardly with the periphery thereofagainst said weather stripping around said openings each of said latchmeans includes longitudinally adin tight, sealing engagement therewith.justable coupling means between said springs and 2. A combined closureand ventilating wall structure said latch arms, whereby the tension ofsaid springs as defined in claim 1 wherein: may be adjusted.

said attachment means comprises retainer el ents 8. A combined closureand ventilating wall structure contained in recesses in the inside facesof said air as d fin d i claim 1 wherein; impervious panel sections tothereby avoid interh f id i impervious pane] Sections i ference of saidpanel unit with said weather stripping as a said panel unit is shiftedbetween said unit being swingable outwardly away from said upprised ofan opaque, thermal insulating sheet having at least one through apertureof decorative conopen Closed positionsfiguration therein, and a sheet ofair impervious,

3- A combined closure and ventilating wall structure translucentmaterial overlying said thermal lnsulatas f clam 1 wherein? ing sheet onat least one side thereof, whereby Sald gulde means comprise P bracketmeans weather elements will be excluded by said air imnected between thetop of said panel unit and guide pen/ions Sheet and light may pass onlythrough the elements shiftably engaging said track, said panel portionsof Said air impervious pane] Sections fined by the apertures in saidopaque sheet.

right wall about a substantially horizontal axis defined by said pivotbracket means whereby said panel unit may be swung outwardly away fromsaid upright wall to avoid interference with said weather stripping assaid panel unit is shifted along said guide track between said open andclosed posi- 9. A combined closure and ventilating wall structure asdefined in claim 8 wherein:

said opaque, thermal insulating sheet is polyurethane and is sandwichedbetween two sheets of said translucent, air impervious material. 10. acombined closure and ventilating wall structure 4 x d l d H as deinfedin claim 1 wherein:

me osure vent 3 mg wa Structure said guide means are attached only tothe upper ends as defined in claim 1 wherein:

of said air impervious panel sections, and said ventilating panelsections have peripheral frames which are attached to abutting portionsof said air impervious panel sections. 11. A combined closure andventilating wall structure comprising:

an upright wall comprised of a plurality of fixed,

spaced apart solid wall sections defining therebetween a plurality ofspaced apart openings sepa- 3 5 rated by said solid wall sections;

guide track means attached to said upright wall adjacent said openingsin a direction coextensive with the longitudinal extent of said wall; apanel unit shiftably supported by guide means engaging said track meansfor back and forth movement thereon, said panel unit being comprised ofalternate, air impervious panel sections and air pervious ventilatingpanel sections joined together and shiftably movable back and forth as aunitary assembly on said guide track means between a first closedposition in which said air impervious panel sections are aligned oversaid openings in closing said latch means comprises a pair of verticallyspaced latching devices adjacent to the top and bottom ends of each ofsaid openings on both sides thereof, and said cooperating attachmentmeans are positioned at the top and bottom of the inside peripheralfaces of each of said air impervious panel sections on opposite sidesthereof for engagement by said lataching devices, whereby said airimpervious panel sections may be tightly pulled in against said weatherstripping at their upper ends as well as at the free hanging bottom endsthereof. 5. A combined closure and ventilating wall structure as definedin claim 1 wherein:

each of said latch means incorporates a normally unloaded spring whichis releasably engageable with one of said attachment means on said airimpervious panel sections, and a latch mechanism connected to one ofsaid springs and shiftable towards and away from said panel unit in aplane generally normal thereto from a first, outwardly shifted releaseposition to a second, inwardly shifted locking position in an inwarddirection away from said panel unit in which it places one of saidsprings in rel'fltlon t q i a Second 9P P f tension and pulls said airimpervious panel sections Whlch veljtllatmg Panel Sections are alignedin tightly against said weather stripping in tight, Over qP P weather liContact therewith each of said air impervious panel sections is com- 6.A combined closure and ventilating wall structure prised of an p qthermal insulating Sheet as d fi d in l i 5 h i ing at least one throughaperture of decorative coneach of said latch mechanisms is a pivotal armpivotfigur'ation therein, and at lelst one Sheet l ally attached at itsinner end to the side wall defin- Pen/10115: translucent matel'laloverlymg said ing one of said openings for pivotal movement lating sheeton one side thereof, whereby weather b t a i l i d h of id springs ielements will be'excluded by said air impervious connected to one ofsaid arms at a point outwardly Sheet and light y P y through the Portionthereon from its point ofpivotal attachment to one f a d a mp i u pan nsd fined y of said opening side walls, whereby said latch arms 531daperture; and will snap into said locking position and hold said airweather stripping extending around the peripheral impervious panelsections tightly against said edges of each of said openings on theouter face of weather stripping when said point of spring attachtheportions of said wall sections defining said ment to said arms goes overcenter with respect to openings for engagement by the inner faces ofsaid said pivotal axes. air impervious panel sections. 7. A combinedclosure and ventilating wall structure 12. A combined closure andventilating wall strucas defined in claim 6 wherein: ture as defined inclaim 11 wherein:

vious panel sections on the inside faces thereof for releasableengagement by said latach means in such a manner that said latch meansmay be utilized to pull said air impervious panel sections inwardlyagainst said weather stripping around said openings in tight, sealingengagement therewith when said panel unit is shifted to said closedposi-

1. A combined closure and ventilating wall structure comprising: anupright wall comprised of a plurality of fixed, spaced apart solid wallsections defining therebetween a plurality of spaced apart openingsseparated by said solid wall sections; a guide track attached to saidupright wall above said openings in a direction coextensive with thelongitudinal extent of said wall and said openings; a shiftable panelunit suspended at its upper end by guide means engaging said track andshiftable back and forth thereon, the bottom end of said panel unitbeing normally free hanging, and said panel unit being comprised ofalternate, aiar impervious, heat insulating panel sections and airpervious ventilating panel sections joined together and shiftablymovable back and forth together as a unitary assembly on said trackbetween a first closed position in which said air impervious panelsections are aligned over said openings in closing relation thereto anda second, open position in which said ventilating panel sections arealigned over said openings; weather stripping extending around theperipheral edge of each of said openings on the outer face of theportions of said wall sections defining said openings; and latch meansattached to said solid wall sections inside of each of said openings onopposite sides thereof, and cooperating attachment means on oppositesides of each of said air impervious panel sections with which saidlatch means are releasably engageable in such a manner as to pull saidair impervious panel sections inwardly with the periphery thereofagainst said weather stripping around said openings in tight, sealingengagement therewith.
 2. A combined closure and ventilating wallstructure as defined in claim 1 wherein: said attachment means comprisesretainer elements contained in recesses in the inside faces of said airimpervious panel sections to thereby avoid interference of said panelunit with said weather stripping as a said panel unit is shifted betweensaid open and closed positions.
 3. A combined closure and ventilatingwall structure as defined in claim 1 wherein: said guide means comprisepivot bracket means connected between the top of said panel unit andguide elements shiftably engaging said track, said panel unit beingswingable outwardly away from said upright wall about a substantiallyhorizontal axis defined by said pivot bracket means whereby said panelunit may be swung outwardly away from said upright wall to avoidinterference with said weather stripping as said panel unit is shiftedalong said guide track between said open and closed positions.
 4. Acombined closure and ventilating wall structure as defined in claim 1wherein: said latch means comprises a pair of vertically spaced latchingdevices adjacent to the top and bottom ends of each of said openings onboth sides thereof, and said cooperating attachment means are positionedat the top and bottom of the inside peripheral faces of each of said airimpervious panel sections on opposite sides thereof for engagement bysaid lataching devices, whereby said air impervious panel sections maybe tightly pulled in against said weather stripping at their upper endsas well as at the free hanging bottom ends thereof.
 5. A combinedclosure and ventilating wall structure as defined in claim 1 wherein:each of said latch means incorporates a normally unloaded spring whichis releasably engageable with one of said attachment means on said airimpervioUs panel sections, and a latch mechanism connected to one ofsaid springs and shiftable towards and away from said panel unit in aplane generally normal thereto from a first, outwardly shifted releaseposition to a second, inwardly shifted locking position in an inwarddirection away from said panel unit in which it places one of saidsprings in tension and pulls said air impervious panel sections intightly against said weather stripping in tight, weather sealing contacttherewith.
 6. A combined closure and ventilating wall structure asdefined in claim 5 wherein: each of said latch mechanisms is a pivotalarm pivotally attached at its inner end to the side wall defining one ofsaid openings for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, and each ofsaid springs is connected to one of said arms at a point outwardlythereon from its point of pivotal attachment to one of said opening sidewalls, whereby said latch arms will snap into said locking position andhold said air impervious panel sections tightly against said weatherstripping when said point of spring attachment to said arms goes overcenter with respect to said pivotal axes.
 7. A combined closure andventilating wall structure as defined in claim 6 wherein: each of saidlatch means includes longitudinally adjustable coupling means betweensaid springs and said latch arms, whereby the tension of said springsmay be adjusted.
 8. A combined closure and ventilating wall structure asdefined in claim 1 wherein: each of said air impervious panel sectionsis comprised of an opaque, thermal insulating sheet having at least onethrough aperture of decorative configuration therein, and a sheet of airimpervious, translucent material overlying said thermal insulating sheeton at least one side thereof, whereby weather elements will be excludedby said air impervious sheet and light may pass only through theportions of said air impervious panel sections defined by the aperturesin said opaque sheet.
 9. A combined closure and ventilating wallstructure as defined in claim 8 wherein: said opaque, thermal insulatingsheet is polyurethane and is sandwiched between two sheets of saidtranslucent, air impervious material.
 10. a combined closure andventilating wall structure as deinfed in claim 1 wherein: said guidemeans are attached only to the upper ends of said air impervious panelsections, and said ventilating panel sections have peripheral frameswhich are attached to abutting portions of said air impervious panelsections.
 11. A combined closure and ventilating wall structurecomprising: an upright wall comprised of a plurality of fixed, spacedapart solid wall sections defining therebetween a plurality of spacedapart openings separated by said solid wall sections; guide track meansattached to said upright wall adjacent said openings in a directioncoextensive with the longitudinal extent of said wall; a panel unitshiftably supported by guide means engaging said track means for backand forth movement thereon, said panel unit being comprised ofalternate, air impervious panel sections and air pervious ventilatingpanel sections joined together and shiftably movable back and forth as aunitary assembly on said guide track means between a first closedposition in which said air impervious panel sections are aligned oversaid openings in closing relation thereto and a second, open position inwhich said ventilating panel sections are aligned over said openings;and each of said air impervious panel sections is comprised of anopaque, thermal insulating sheet having at least one through aperture ofdecorative configuration therein, and at least one sheet of airimpervious, translucent material overlying said insulating sheet on oneside thereof, whereby weather elements will be excluded by said airimpervious sheet and light may pass only through the portion of said airimpervious panel sections defined by said aperture; and weatherstripping extending around the periPheral edges of each of said openingson the outer face of the portions of said wall sections defining saidopenings for engagement by the inner faces of said air impervious panelsections.
 12. A combined closure and ventilating wall structure asdefined in claim 11 wherein: said opaque, thermal insulating sheets arepolyurethane and are sandwiched between two sheets of translucent, airimpervious material.
 13. A combined closure and ventilating wallstructure as defined in claim 11 wherein: latch means are attached tosaid solid wall sections inside of each of said openings on oppositesides thereof and cooperating attachment means are positioned onopposite sides of each of said air impervious panel sections on theinside faces thereof for releasable engagement by said latach means insuch a manner that said latch means may be utilized to pull said airimpervious panel sections inwardly against said weather stripping aroundsaid openings in tight, sealing engagement therewith when said panelunit is shifted to said closed position.